Line-space mechanism



July 29 1924.

DE WITT c. HARRIS LINE SPACE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 k/vZ/wzio fiZ/Zii 6, @m

-' DE WITT c. HARRIS LINE SPACE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Q e Z 2 96/ .July 29. .1924. 1,503.1 23

DE WITT C. HARRIS 7 LINE SPACE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1, 3 S'Sheetg-Sheet a Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT ounce.

DE WITT CLINTON HARE-IS, OF PTNELAND, FLOR-IDA.

LINE-SPACE Application filed September To all whom may 60710677 Be it known that I, DE VVrr'r C. HAnnIs, a citizen of the -United States, residing at Pineland, in the county of Lee and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Line-Space Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved line spacing mechanism as employed in typewriters and similar machines.

The'principal object of the invention is to provide an improved line spacing mechanism which is operable by either one of a pair of hand levers located at opposite ends of the carriage.

Another object is to provide operating connections between the hand levers and the spacing mechanism whereby the latter may be operated by either of the levers without affecting the normal position of the other of the levers.

Another object is to provide improved means for varying the relation between the parts ofthe actuating mechanism to write with single, double or triple line spaces.

A further object is to'provide an improved line spacing mechanism of simple and durable construction which is easy and certain in operation at all times.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings= Fig. 1 is a plan view of a detached typewriter carriage including a platen and line spacing mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the carriage and spacing, mechanism with the central portion broken out, illustrating the parts at the ends of the carriage.

Figs 3 and 4 are cross sect1onal'end vlews taken on the planes of the linesr33 and H respectively in F ig. 2. Fig. .5 is a detail view.

The carriage shown in the drawings, as employed to illustrate one embodiment ofmy invention, comprises a pair of end plates 1 and 2 interconnected by the bars 3 to 6 inclusive, the whole forming a rigid frame structure. The bar 3 may be graduated and carry adjustable marginal stops one of which is seenv at 7. The bar 4 carries a suit- MECHANISM.

1, 1921. Serial No. 497,649.

able number of adjustable tabulator stops 8, associated with a scale 9 mounted on; the barb. An escapement bar 10 may be-re leased by a lever 11, and a lever 12'is shown by which paper feed rolls carried on abar 13 may be released. A paper pan 1 1, and carriage bearings 15, are also shown. The foregoing named parts form no part of my present invention, and are mentioned-merely for identification without detailed description. 1

A platen 1G is mounted on a shaft 17 having suitable bearings supported in the end plates 1 and 2, the ends of the shaft ex tending outwardly from the carriage frame and supporting fixed knobs 18 and manuallyrotating the platen.

The rotation of the platen and its position during the writing operation is determined by a ratchet wheel 20 fixed on the platen shaft 17 and positioned at the outer side of the end plate 1. A leaf spring 21, having one end rigidly attached tothe end plate 1 as illustrated at 22, carries a roller 23 pivoted in its free end. The roller 23 is 19 for adapted to engage resiliently the ratchet wheel teeth with sufficienttension to secure the platen against rotation otherwise than by positive movement by the operator,tl1us assuring straight typewritten lines on the paper carried by the platen.

To'permit writing out of alinement with the regular spacing, the roller 23 may be lifted out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of a release lever 2a (Fig. 4) pivoted on the carriage frame at 25, and having a curved slot 26 which receives a laterally projecting member 27 mountedon the roller end of the spring 21. The slot 26 is of such shape that with the lever 24 in one position the roller 23 is lifted and held out of engagement with the ratchet. An arcuate slot 28 also may be formed in the base portion of the lever 24 toengage the flanged stud 29 fixed in the carriage frame, the latter serving to stabilize the lever 24 and guide its movement.

' Speed and accuracy inoperating a typewriter is greatly influenced by the ease and eertaintly with which theoperator may ad Vance the sheet thedesired space at the end of each line and also by the rapidity with which the operator may adjust hismachine to use single, double or triple spacing between the typewritten lines as may be desired. My line spacing mechanism possesses superior advantages in both respects, having a visible adjustment, positive accurate action, and operable from either side ofthe machine with the shifting of the carriage.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, I employ a ratchet actuating arm 30 having a pivotal support 31 fixed on the end plate 1, the free end of the arm being guided in its swinging movement by engagement of the arcuate periphery 32 with the annularly recessed stud33 fixed in the end plate. A pawl 34 pivoted on a pin 35 fixed in the free end of thearm 30is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet with the upward swinging of the actuating arm and rotate the platen. A. rearward extension 36 of the pawl is recessed to receive a coiled spring 37 which is compressed between the extension and a laterally recessed stud 38 fixed in an arm 30. The spring tends to force the pawl into en gaging position,'the movement of the latter being limited. by abutment of a shoulder 39 with the stud 38. The extension 36 of the pawl is arranged to contact at its extremity with a laterally projecting bracket 40 of the plate 1, so that when the actuating arm 30 is in its lower position the extension 36 is forced inwardly against the spring 3? and the pawl 34 is carried clear of the ratchet wheel.

The extent to which the ratchet wheel may be rotated in the upward swing of the actuating arm'and pawl is controlled, as illustrated in my present embodiment, by a stop arm 41 (Fig. 3) pivotally supported at one end on the pivot pin 31 which carries the actuating arm 30. The stop arm extends generally parallel to latter and is shaped at its free end'to form a dog 42 adapted to enter between the teeth of the ratchet wheel and arrest its movement when the stop arm is swung upwardly.

The actuating arm and the stop arm are arranged tobe operatively swung in unison, and their relative positions determine the extent to which the ratchet wheel may be rotated-by the pawl 34 before the dog 42 is engaged and stops further movement. To control the relation between the two arms, I have provided a finger lever 43 positioned for ready accessibility to the operator and near the spring 21. The latter may be graduated, as illustrated at 44 (Fig. 1) to guide the operator in positioning the lever for single, double or triple line spacing. lever 43 extends between the arms 30 and 41,

The

and is pivoted on a pivot bolt 45 secured on i the stop arm 41 and extending through a slot 46in the actuating arm 30. The bolt 45 maybe provided with a flanged head overlying the slot 46 to guide and secure the movement of the bolt in the slot with the relative swinging of the arms; The lower end of the lever 43 carries a stud or roller 47extending laterally into a slot 48 formed inthe actuating arm 30. The lower contour of the slot is arranged with three concavities or steps 49 in which the roller 47 may be selectively positioned by swinging the key lever 43. The steps are so positioned that the selective engagement therewith by the roller 47 serves to position the stop arm 41, relatively to the actuating arm 30, in three selective positions. By this arrange ment the stop arm may be selectively adjusted to permitrotation of the ratchet wheel by the pawl 34 through a distance of one, two or three teeth respectively, before the dog 42 engages the ratchet wheel.

The stop arm, carrying the lever 43 and roller 47, may be resiliently held with the latter engaged in the stepped contour 49, and thereby both arms resiliently held in normal downward position, by means of a tending into the slot 55 at the bottom of which the stop pin normally rests, or the arm 30 may be limited in 1ts downward swing by abutment with the laterally extending bracket 40 of the end plate.

The mechanism just describel is operatively actuated by a pair of line space levers 56 and 57, positioned at opposite ends of the carriage for convenient manipulation by the operator, by either of which levers line spacing may be effected and the position of the carriage may be shifted. The lever 56 is pivoted on an inclined portion 58 of the lateral bracket 40 of the end plate, by means of the pivot bolt 59. Also pivoted on the bolt 59 is a member 60 having an actuator foot 61 positioned beneath the free end of the arm 30, and operatively arranged to swing the latter and its associated parts into actuating engagement with the ratchet wheel 20. The actuator member 60 is rotatable with the lever 56 by a stud bolt 62 rigidly secured in the member 60- and projecting into an arcnate slot 63 formed in the base portion of the lever 56. The stud 62 is normally at rest at the bottom of the slot so that outward movement of the lever 56 immediately raises the foot 61and actuates the line spacing mechanism.

The line space lever 57 also has operating connection with the actuator member 60. A second stud bolt 64 fixed in the lower portion of the member 60 extends into an arcu ate slot 65 formed in the end portion 66 of a longitudinally movable connecting bar 67. The portion 66 may be positioned between the member 60 and the support 58. Normally the stud bolt 64: lies at the outer end of the slot 65, and upon the ope *ation of the lever 56 the bolt 64 is carried by the member inwardly through the slot 65 without moving the connecting bar 67. Likewise, the inward movement of the portion 66' will immediately actuate the member 60; I and carry the stud bolt '62 upwardly through the arcuate slot 63 without moving the lever 56. i

The opposite end of the connecting bar 67 is pivotally attachedto a crank 68 rigidly secured to a rock-shaft 69 having its bearing in a suitable casing 70 attached to the end plate 2 of thecarriage. The upper end of the rock shaft is rigid with and supports the line space lever 57 by which the connecting bar 67 may be operated. The connecting bar and its associated parts are resiliently held in normal position by means of the tension spring 71 (Fig. 1) secured at one end to the bar, as at 72, and fastened at the other end to one or". the frame members of the carriage, as at 73.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a very simple and effective line spacing mechanism, independently operable from either side of the machine, and having improved means of adjusting the mechanism for changes in line spacing.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, an actuator having a, fixed pivotal support, a pair of studs fixed on said actuator, a pivoted lever having an arcuate slot to receive one of said studs, a bar having an arcuate slot to receive the other of said studs, said studs being normally positioned at one end respectively of said slots for operative engagement by said lever and said bar, and being arranged to pass through said slots as when either of said latter members remain inoperative.

2. In combination with a carriage having a platen, line spacing mechanism comprising means for rotating the platen, an actuator for said means having a pair 01" rigid studs, a hand lever having a slot receiving one of said studs, a bar having a slot receiving the other of said studs, and a second hand leverarranged to operate said bar, said slots being arranged respectively to engage one of said studs and move said actuator upon movement of one of said levers, the other of said studs passing inoperatively through its respective slot.

3. In combination with a carriage having a platen, line spacing mechanism comprising means for rotating the platen, an actuator for said means having a rigid stud, a hand lever having a slot adapted to receive said stud, said slot being arranged to engage-said stud to move said actuator upon movement of said lever, and means for moving said actuator independently of said lever, said stud. passing 'inoperatively through said slot.

4. Inamechanism otthe class described,

a platen rotating ratchet wheel, an actuating arm arranged to actuate saidratchet wheel, a stop armco-oper-atmg therewith to engage and stop said ratchet wheel after a prede having a part thereof projecting into a slot formed in the other of said arms, said slot having a plurality of peripheral pockets adapted to selectively receive said part" in variable positions of said lever.

5. In armechanism of the class described, in combination, a pivoted arm having a pawl adapted to actuate: a ratchet wheel, a second pivoted arm extending beside said first arm and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel to arrest rotation thereof, and a lever pivoted on said second arm having a lateral stud, spaced from its pivot center, said first arm having a slot defining on one side a series of pockets severally apted to receive said stud and thereby vary the position of said second arm relatively to said first arm. n

6. In a line spacing mechanism, a swinging arm, a pawl thereon adapted to engage and rotate a ratchet wheel, a second swinging arm adapted to engage and stop the rotation of said wheel, a lever pivoted on said second arm having operative engagement with a slotted portion of said first arm to vary the relative positions of said arms, and spring means engaging said second arm normally tending to maintain the relative positions of said levers and move them out of engagement with said ratchet wheel.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a pivotal arm having a series of laterally opening pockets formed therein, a pawl supported at one end of said arm for engaging and rotating a ratchet, and means co-operating selectively with the several pockets for variably limiting the extent to Which said arm may be pivoted to actuate said pawl.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, an actuating arm having means for rotating a ratchet wheel, a stop arm adapted to engage and arrest said wheel, said arms being pivoted on the same axis, a lever pivoted on said stop arm and extending transversely of said actuating arm, said actuating arm having an elongated slot, and a lateral projection on said lever operatively positioned in said slot, said slot and lever being relatively arranged so that varying the position of said projection will vary the relative positions of said arms.

9. In a mechanism of the class described,

a platen and ratchet wheel, adjustable means for rotating said ratchet wheel varying degrees, including a finger lever for adjusting said means, and a stationary leaf spring adapted to bear upon and resist rotation of the platen ratchet wheel, said spring having a scale co-operating with said finger lever and indicating the several selective positions of said lever.

10. In amechanism of the class described. in combination, a pivoted arm having a pawl adapted to actuate a ratchet Wheel, a second pivoted arm co-operating therewith to engage and. stop said ratchet Wheel 1 after a predetermined degree of rotation,

and means'for varying the degree of rotation by varying the relation between said arms.

11. I11 combination with a carriage having a platen, line spacing mechanism comprising an armhaving a pawl for rotating a ratchet, an actuator for said arm mounted to rotate about a fixed pivot, a hand lever mounted to rotate about said pivot, and means connecting said actuator and said hand lever whereby movement of the latter will effect a rotation of said platen.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DE lVITT CLINTON HARRIS. 

